U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20472
Grant Programs Directorate
Information Bulletin No. 343
June 21, 2010
MEMORANDUM FOR:
All State Administrative Agency Heads
All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact
All Urban Areas Security Initiative Points of Contact
All State Homeland Security Directors
All State Emergency Management Agency Directors
All Eligible Regional Transit Agencies
All Private Sector Transportation Security Partners
All Public and Private Sector Port Security Partners
FROM:
Elizabeth M. Harman
Assistant Administrator
Grant Programs Directorate
SUBJECT:
Interim Guidance for Ports, Facilities and Vessels on
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Projects
Funded through the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) and the
Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP)
This Information Bulletin (IB) provides guidance to Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) and
Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) grantees and sub-grantees that have received funding for
the installation and operation of TWIC readers, networks, and support systems in their port
area(s), facility(ies), and vessel(s).
Collaboratively, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the United States Coast
Guard (USCG), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are issuing the following
interim guidance.
TSA is pilot testing TWIC systems in a number of port locations throughout the country. This
pilot program is expected to be complete in early 2011. It is estimated that the Final Rule
specifying the use of TWIC qualified products and equipment—primarily TWIC card readers—
will not be finalized prior to Calendar Year 2012.
A number of grantees and sub-grantees have PSGP and TSGP awards for the installation of
TWIC readers, networks, support systems, and other related hardware. Based on the current
estimate, the Final Rule will not be published in time for grantees to purchase equipment from a
TWIC Qualified Products List prior to the expiration of availability of funds in accordance with
31 USC 1552.
www.fema.gov
To ensure successful completion of these projects and timely expenditure of grant funds, the
following guidance is provided:
.
When contracting for card readers, require that the TWIC readers are on the TSA
Initial Capability Evaluation (ICE) list. The ICE list is posted on the TWIC section of
TSA’s public internet site at: http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/twic_ice_list.pdf. The
ICE list is updated each time a reader is submitted for evaluation and satisfactorily
demonstrates its ability to process TWIC card information correctly. It is strongly
recommended that TWIC equipment purchasers develop an agreement with vendor(s)
to ensure procured equipment will be upgradeable or exchangeable to meet the Final
Rule specification when published. TWIC equipment purchasers are advised to
conduct a suitability analysis for their facility prior to entering into an agreement with
one or more vendors. Among the things the analysis should include are:
o
Compatibility with planned or legacy physical access control system
o
Ability of fixed readers to withstand environmental conditions anticipated
if installed outdoors
o
Ability to view reader screen in bright or low light conditions if installed
outdoors
.
If a grantee requests to re-scope an existing award, all new projects must meet
maritime security risk mitigation within the port area or the facility. Projects funded
by re-scoping will not be eligible for additional grant funding. The re-scoping request
must include a revised budget, a revised timeline of milestones for completion,
justification for the changes requested and the Captain of the Port’s (COTP)
determination. Re-scoping projects may take several months and will include
financial and Environmental Historical Preservation (EHP) reviews. Re-scoping will
be approved at the Program Analyst’s discretion with consideration for time available
within the grant period of performance, Captain of the Port (COTP) determination,
and applicability to PSGP priorities for the Fiscal Year of the award.
If you have additional questions, please contact your FEMA GPD Program Analyst.
www.fema.gov